Ferroelectric and magnetic properties of Nd-doped Bi4 - xFeTi3O12 nanoparticles prepared through the egg-white method

Abstract

Multiferroic behavior of Bi4 - xNdxFeTi3O12 (0.0 ≤ × ≤ 0.25, × = 0.05) ceramic nanoparticles prepared through the egg-white method was investigated. The dielectric properties of the samples show normal behavior and are explained in the light of space charge polarization. Room temperature polarization-electric field (P-E) curves show that the samples are not saturated with maximum remanence polarization, Pr = 0.110 μC/cm2, and a relatively low coercive field, Ec = of 7.918 kV/cm, at an applied field of 1 kV/cm was observed for 5% Nd doping. The room temperature M-H hysteresis curve shows that the samples exhibit intrinsic antiferromagnetism with a weak ferromagnetism. These properties entitle the grown nanoparticles of BNFT as one of the few multiferroic materials that exhibit decent magnetization and electric polarization. © 2012 Batoo et al.